Book Review of
The Waffen-SS Ardennes Offensive
Rare Photographs From Wartime Archives
Author: Ian Baxter
Pen & Sword Books
Images of War
ISBN: 9781399012898
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2022
MSRP: $22.95
Images of War
ISBN: 9781399012898
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2022
MSRP: $22.95
HISTORY:
In late 1944, under extreme pressure on both the Eastern and Western fronts, Hitler realized the need to force the Allies into negotiating a truce, thereby saving Germans from total defeat. Using the Christmas period to enhance the vital element of surprise, he ordered a devastating attack through the rugged and mountainous Ardennes region with the key Allied port of Antwerp as the objective.
This book, with its extensive text and rare and unpublished photos with detailed captions, tells the story of the Waffen SS offensive, known as Wacht am Rhein (Watch on the Rhine). These formidable SS armored units, with supporting Wehrmacht divisions, initially achieved dramatic success, making full use of the harsh winter conditions and terrain.
Gradually, the Allies regained the upper hand on the attackers who were increasingly suffering from lack of reinforcements and resupplies. After defeat at the pivotal battle of Bastogne, remaining Waffen SS units withdrew and were transferred back to the Eastern front. As described in this classic Images of War book, the Fuhrer’s gamble so nearly paid off and the ruthless fighting spirit of the elite Waffen SS divisions caused the Allied command serious concern.
THE BOOK:
Pen & Sword Books is located in the UK.
The book is of soft-cover of 128 pages in 7 ½” x 9 ¾” page format.
At the top of the front cover, a black and white wartime photo shows SS soldiers atop a Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track. The have grass atop their helmets, held in place with netting.
Below there is 5 more black and white photos.
Reading left to right, the 1st photo shows an SS infantry-man manning a panzerfaust rocket launcher.
The 2nd photo shows 2 men reading a map.
The 3rd photo shows men aboard 2 Sd.Kfz. 251 half-tracks.
The 4th photo shows a Panther tank,
The 5th Photo shows men in a ditch.
The back cover of the book has 3 more black and white wartime photos on it.
The 1st one shows men on and around an ammo trailer.
The 2nd one shows men advancing through a forest.
The 3rd one shows an officer next to a Brummbar tank.
The book contains 128 black and white photos (including the cover arts).
Included are:
Two photos of Hitler with officers, 11 photos of generals and officers, Sd.Kfz. 251 half-tracks, Tiger tanks, Pz.Kpfw. IV tanks, Panther tanks, Sd.Kfz. 250 half-tracks, a 15 cm gun, a VW Type 166 Schwimmwagen, a Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. G, a mortar crew, an 8.8cm Flak gun, a 2cm Flak 38 gun, A Stug. IV tank, 3 photos of U.S. soldiers in captivity, a Wespe tank, a Panzerwerfer 42 Auf.. Maultier Sd.Kfz. 4/1 and a Panther G.
There are 4 black and white illustrations of SS division badges:
1st SS Panzer Div. Liebstandarte
2nd SS Panzer Div. Das Reich
9th SS Panzer Div. Hohenstaufen
12th SS Panzer Div. Hitlerjugend
About the author:
Ian Baxter is a much-published author and photograph collector, whose books draw an increasing following. Among his man previous titles in the Images of War Series are “Hitler’s Boy Soldiers”, “Nazi Concentration Camp Commandants”, The Ghettos of Nazi Occupied Poland”, “German Army on the Eastern Front- the Advance”, German Army on the Eastern Front-the Defeat”, “The Crushing of Army Group (North) and the SS Waffen Division series, including SS Leibstandarte Div. SS Totenkopf Div. at War, “Waffen SS in Baltic states” and “Waffen SS at Arnhem”.
He lives near Chelmsford, Essex.
This is a neat book about the SS in the Ardennes.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Pen & Sword books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
In late 1944, under extreme pressure on both the Eastern and Western fronts, Hitler realized the need to force the Allies into negotiating a truce, thereby saving Germans from total defeat. Using the Christmas period to enhance the vital element of surprise, he ordered a devastating attack through the rugged and mountainous Ardennes region with the key Allied port of Antwerp as the objective.
This book, with its extensive text and rare and unpublished photos with detailed captions, tells the story of the Waffen SS offensive, known as Wacht am Rhein (Watch on the Rhine). These formidable SS armored units, with supporting Wehrmacht divisions, initially achieved dramatic success, making full use of the harsh winter conditions and terrain.
Gradually, the Allies regained the upper hand on the attackers who were increasingly suffering from lack of reinforcements and resupplies. After defeat at the pivotal battle of Bastogne, remaining Waffen SS units withdrew and were transferred back to the Eastern front. As described in this classic Images of War book, the Fuhrer’s gamble so nearly paid off and the ruthless fighting spirit of the elite Waffen SS divisions caused the Allied command serious concern.
THE BOOK:
Pen & Sword Books is located in the UK.
The book is of soft-cover of 128 pages in 7 ½” x 9 ¾” page format.
At the top of the front cover, a black and white wartime photo shows SS soldiers atop a Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track. The have grass atop their helmets, held in place with netting.
Below there is 5 more black and white photos.
Reading left to right, the 1st photo shows an SS infantry-man manning a panzerfaust rocket launcher.
The 2nd photo shows 2 men reading a map.
The 3rd photo shows men aboard 2 Sd.Kfz. 251 half-tracks.
The 4th photo shows a Panther tank,
The 5th Photo shows men in a ditch.
The back cover of the book has 3 more black and white wartime photos on it.
The 1st one shows men on and around an ammo trailer.
The 2nd one shows men advancing through a forest.
The 3rd one shows an officer next to a Brummbar tank.
The book contains 128 black and white photos (including the cover arts).
Included are:
Two photos of Hitler with officers, 11 photos of generals and officers, Sd.Kfz. 251 half-tracks, Tiger tanks, Pz.Kpfw. IV tanks, Panther tanks, Sd.Kfz. 250 half-tracks, a 15 cm gun, a VW Type 166 Schwimmwagen, a Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. G, a mortar crew, an 8.8cm Flak gun, a 2cm Flak 38 gun, A Stug. IV tank, 3 photos of U.S. soldiers in captivity, a Wespe tank, a Panzerwerfer 42 Auf.. Maultier Sd.Kfz. 4/1 and a Panther G.
There are 4 black and white illustrations of SS division badges:
1st SS Panzer Div. Liebstandarte
2nd SS Panzer Div. Das Reich
9th SS Panzer Div. Hohenstaufen
12th SS Panzer Div. Hitlerjugend
About the author:
Ian Baxter is a much-published author and photograph collector, whose books draw an increasing following. Among his man previous titles in the Images of War Series are “Hitler’s Boy Soldiers”, “Nazi Concentration Camp Commandants”, The Ghettos of Nazi Occupied Poland”, “German Army on the Eastern Front- the Advance”, German Army on the Eastern Front-the Defeat”, “The Crushing of Army Group (North) and the SS Waffen Division series, including SS Leibstandarte Div. SS Totenkopf Div. at War, “Waffen SS in Baltic states” and “Waffen SS at Arnhem”.
He lives near Chelmsford, Essex.
This is a neat book about the SS in the Ardennes.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Pen & Sword books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Highly recommended.